Differences

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--- merchant_guide:testing-subscriptions [2010/05/01 04:27] – external edit 127.0.0.1
+++ merchant_guide:testing-subscriptions [2011/01/13 19:46] (current) – [Configure your PayPal business test account] earlyimpact
@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 This article provides information on how to "test" the process of buying and managing a subscription with SubscriptionBridge.
-How and what to test can vary depending on the payment gateway that you have associated with your SubscriptionBridge-based store. So the rest of the article is divided into sections that are specific to each payment system.
+How and what to test can vary depending on the payment gateway that you have associated with your SubscriptionBridge-based store. So the rest of the article is divided into sections that are specific to each payment system. The natural way to test SubscriptionBridge is by using the Test Payment Gateway, so we'll start there.
+===== Test Payment Gateway =====
+SubscriptionBridge includes a [[payment-gateways:test|Test Gateway]] that allows you to test a variety of features without having to sign up for a "live" recurring payment system.
+  * Take your time and familiarize with SubscriptionBridge without having to pay any payment gateway fees
+  * Research the various recurring payment systems that SubscriptionBridge supports while still being able to test the system
+  * [[payment-gateways:test|More information on the Test Gateway]]
+The main limitation of using the Test Gateway is that it does not allow you to test recurring payments, but rather only the user-triggered payments (e.g. purchasing a new subscription, adding a feature, paying an outstanding balance, etc.).
 ===== Authorize.Net =====
@@ Line 11: / Line 21: @@
 ==== No "sandbox" ====
-The [[:authorize.net|Authorize.Net Automated Recurring Billing]] (ARB) system does not have a testing (or "sandbox") environment. Authorize.Net Advanced Integration Method (AIM) does, but not the Recurring Billing system. So there is no way to create a "test" subscription and then have it process recurring payments in a //test mode//.
+The [[payment-gateways:authorize.net|Authorize.Net Automated Recurring Billing]] (ARB) system does not have a testing (or "sandbox") environment. Authorize.Net Advanced Integration Method (AIM) does, but not the Recurring Billing system. So there is no way to create a "test" subscription and then have it process recurring payments in a //test mode//.
 ==== Real transactions, but no "captures" ====
@@ Line 31: / Line 41: @@
 To test the system and simulate different scenarios, setup a short subscription (e.g. a subscription with a weekly payment interval and a week-long free trial, for example). You will then see SubscriptionBridge go through a series of "events" associated with the subscription (E.g. trial expiration reminder, subscription payment notifications, etc.). Note that Authorize.Net requires that the billing period be weekly or longer (i.e. you cannot setup a daily subscription, although that would be useful for testing purposes).
-===== PayPal Website Payments Pro =====
-PayPal has a testing ("sandbox") environment. You can find it at https://developer.paypal.com/
+===== Using PayPal in a testing environment =====
+PayPal has a testing ("sandbox") environment: you can [[https://developer.paypal.com/cgi-bin/devscr?cmd=_signup-run|sign up for a PayPal sandbox account]] at any time. __The PayPal Sandbox mimics exactly the live PayPal system__. To test SubscriptionBridge with PayPal, follow these instructions.
+==== Create a PayPal Sandbox Account ====
+  * [[https://developer.paypal.com/cgi-bin/devscr?cmd=_signup-run|Sign up for a PayPal sandbox account]]
+  * Once you have activated your sandbox account, you will need to create a seller account within it (from your sandbox account, you can create fictitious accounts for both buyers and sellers, so you can test both sides)
+==== Create a PayPal business account in the Sandbox ====
+  * Log into the PayPal sandbox
+  * Create a new account manually (there is an option to "//Create Manually//")
+  * Follow the instructions on the screen to create the account
+Note that PayPal will add to the e-mail address that you enter some additional characters when the account is actually created. Don't worry, that's just the way it works. Messages sent to that e-mail account can be seen by clicking on "Test E-mail" in the left-side navigation.
+==== Configure your PayPal business test account ====
+  * Log into the PayPal sandbox
+  * Select //Test Accounts// from the left-side navigation
+  * Now that you have a business (seller) account within the PayPal Sandbox, select it and click on "//Enter Sandbox Test Site//"
+  * The user name is the e-mail associated with the PayPal Sandbox seller account (//the one with the extra, funny characters mentioned above//)
+  * The password is the one that was created at the time you created the seller account. If you forgot it, you can request to create a new one. Just remember that e-mails sent to your seller account can be seen only by clicking on "Test E-mail" in the left-side navigation of the sandbox portal.
-The PayPal Sandbox mimics exactly the live PayPal system. So to use test SubscriptionBridge with PayPal:
+This Sandbox account works just like any regular PayPal business account. You will need to obtain the API Credentials and set the Instant Payment Notification settings just like you would do with a regular PayPal business account.
-  - Create a PayPal Website Payments Pro sandbox account, [[:paypal#setting-up-website-payments-pro|just like you would with a regular account]]
+  * **API credentials**: you can request API credentials as described [[:payment-gateways:paypal#obtaining-your-api-credentials|here]], or you can simply click on API Credentials in the left-side navigation of the sandbox portal, as shown below. The same Sandbox API credentials will be provided to you. {{:merchant_guide:sbpaypal_sandbox.png|PayPal sandbox}}
-  - [[:paypal|Set it up]] exactly as you would with your "live" account. This includes...
+  * **Instant Payment Notification**: follow the [[:payment-gateways:paypal#configuring-instant-payment-notification|same instructions]] use to set Instant Payment Notification settings for a regular PayPal business account.
-    - Requesting your API credentials
-    - Requesting that Recurring Payments are added to your sandbox account
-  - Log into your SubscriptionBridge Merchant Center
-  - Enter the PayPal API credentials on the payment tab
-You can now use SubscriptionBridge with your sandbox Website Payments Pro account.
+==== Use the PayPal sandbox account in SubscriptionBridge ====
-===== PayPal Express =====
-When you active Website Payments Pro, PayPal Express Checkout is activated automatically. Alternatively, you can configure it separately, as a stand-alone system, even without signing up for Website Payments Pro.
+In SubscriptionBridge, as your payment gateway, select the PayPal payment system that you wish to use (Express Checkout or Website Payments Pro) and enter the credentials that you have just obtained from the sandbox.
-For more information and to sign up, visit: http://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_additional-payment-overview-outside
+You can now use SubscriptionBridge with PayPal in a sandbox (testing) environment.
-  * The instructions with regard to adding "API Credentials" to your SubscriptionBridge store are the same as those for Website Payments Pro.
+<note important>NOTE: to successfully submit orders using the PayPal sandbox, you must use a buyer user created using your sandbox account, and __you must be signed into your PayPal sandbox account__ at the time you place the order. Otherwise, you will receive an error.</note>
-  * Note that __you must be signed into your PayPal sandbox account__ in order to be able to successfully use PayPal Express Checkout in a test mode.